Proposed regulations on state-bought acres draw criticism, praise By Lee Bergquist of the Journal Sentinel Madison — The Natural Resources Board approved controversial rules Tuesday that will govern public access on tens of thousands of acres purchased with state dollars over the next decade. The regulations, approved by a unanimous vote, spell out when certain activities such as hunting and trapping might be restricted after land is purchased with assistance from the state's Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund. Many sporting groups said the wording in the regulations is vague and likely to restrict access for hunting and trapping. "Pass these rules and you will drive a wedge into the conservation community that will take decades to remove," said Jeff Nania of Portage, representing the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association. But land conservation groups such as the Nature Conservancy said the rules will give property managers flexibility to impose restrictions to ensure that vulnerable plant and animal species are protected. Land conservation groups also make property acquisitions and use stewardship funds to complete their purchases. The regulations next go to the Legislature, which could modify the rules. Since it was created in 1989, the stewardship fund has provided funding to purchase more than 515,000 acres for public access. Of that, 473,000 acres - or 92% - are open to public hunting, the Department of the Natural Resources said. Most of the land is open to trapping, too, officials say. In 2007, the Legislature reauthorized funding for land acquisition from 2010 to 2020. Starting in July, the DNR and its partners will have access to $86 million a year for land purchases. As part of that funding, lawmakers required that land purchased with the funds must be open to nature-based activities. Hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking and cross-country skiing all were specifically identified, although other activities such as biking also are presumed to be included in most cases. But the regulations also recognize instances where some of these activities can be restricted to protect public safety or to protect plant and animal communities. More access sought Members of the sporting groups said they wanted fewer limits on public access. They called on the board - and not the DNR staff - to decide when nature-based activities are restricted. "Many sportsmen and women are very disappointed" by how the DNR has interpreted the regulations, said Ralph Fritsch of Townsend, a former president of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation. In Sauk County, he said, there were attempts to prohibit coyote and fox hunting by the DNR on land that had been purchased with a mix of stewardship and Nature Conservancy funds. Fritsch also said the agency restricted bear hunting on another parcel that included funding by the conservancy. This has left hunters "incredulous," he said, because the DNR has estimated that the bear population has tripled statewide. But Casey Eggleston, government relations coordinator with the Nature Conservancy, took issue with those claims. Bear hunting on its landin the Baraboo Hills is restricted because there is a small bear population in the area. He also said the regulations were helpful in clarifying the small number of instances when land might need to be closed for a specific purpose. "Some people think that we purchase land and lock it away, and that's just not the case," Eggleston said. The conservancy has purchased 14,160 acres with stewardship dollars. As part of those transactions, the organization has raised $17.2 million in matching funds. Eggleston said about 9 out of every 10 acres in these instances are open for hunting. Since 2007, the organization has permitted trapping on a parcel in the Baraboo Hills near Baraboo and two others on North Bay in northern Door County. But in other areas, trapping hasn't been permitted - not because of philosophical opposition, but because of the damage it might cause to the ecosystem. Some endorse measures Several municipal officials also endorsed the DNR's measures. Municipalities believe they should be allowed to have requirements that prohibit hunting on land, especially if local funds have been raised for purchasing land. One such instance is the 438-acre Mequon Nature Preserve, which shares a boundary with the northwest side of Milwaukee. "We would not have successfully raised $7 million to acquire this land if it were to have hunting activity throughout all season," Mequon Mayor Christine Nuernberg wrote the DNR on Oct. 29.
